Tornillo (Cedrelinga cateniformis)

Tornillo is an imported hardwood

Location

Tornillo (Cedrelinga cateniformis), also referred to as cedrorana. Other trade and local names**: cedrorana, iacaica, paric , yacayac (BR), tornillo (PE). Tornillo timber is not protected under CITES regulations.
It grows in the Loreton Huanuco provinces of Peru and in the humid terra firma of the Brazilian Amazon region. Tornillo can grow up to 52.5 m (160 ft) tall, with trunk diameters of 1.5 to 3 m (5 to 9 ft). Trees in Peru are often smaller in diameter, with merchantable heights of 15 m (45 ft) or more.

Characteristics

The heartwood is pale brown with a golden luster and prominently marked with red vessel lines; the heartwood gradually merges into the lighter-colored sapwood. The texture is coarse. The density of air-dried material collected in Brazil averages 640 kg/m3 (40 lb/ft3); for Peruvian stock, average density is about 480 kg/m3 (30 lb/ft3). The wood is comparable in strength with American elm (Ulmus americana). Tornillo cuts easily and can be finished smoothly, but areas of tension wood may result in woolly surfaces. The heartwood is fairly durable and reported to have good resistance to weathering.

Primary Uses

Tornillo is a general construction wood that can be used for furniture components in lower-grade furniture.

*Much of the base wood information presented here is made available by the USDA FPL FS. If you are interested in a much more technical description of wood properties, I encourage you to visit the source.**http://delta-intkey.com/wood/en/www/mimcecat.htm